presidents barack obama, george w. bush, and bill clinton will attend some of the services scheduled for this week. we don't have the exact time line or schedule, but they plan to be here. we will have much more from here but i know you're tracking breaking news in the state, erica. back to you. >> thank you, lester. >>> today's top story. the american veteran merrill newman will be home are his family in california in a matter of house. he has been held prison in north korea for weeks. late last night he was relieved and quickly began that trip home. ian williams is tracking the developments for us this morning from beijing. ian, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, erica. merrill newman is now a free man after north korea deported him on the first available fleight out of pyongyang. >> i'm very glad to be on my way home. i appreciate the tolerance the dprk government has gave me to be on my way. >> reporter: he also said that he was particularly grateful to the north koreans for releasing him and he was looking f